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Clark University Theatre Summer Intensive

Theatre Summer Intensive

A two-week day program for rising 10th- 12th grade actors, designers, and theatre-makers

July 6 – 17, 2026

Theatre Summer Intensive group photo

Step into the spotlight—or behind the scenes—this summer at Clark University! Our two-week theatre intensive program is designed for passionate high school students eager to explore the full spectrum of theatre arts, from performance to production.

Led by professional actors, designers, and university faculty, students will participate in hands-on workshops in:

  • Voice and speech
  • Monologue and scene study
  • Contemporary movement
  • Character development
  • Audition techniques
  • Technical theatre, including lighting, sound, costume, and scenic design

Whether you’re a performer or a behind-the-scenes creative, all experience levels are welcome. The program concludes with a showcase performance for family and friends—celebrating both onstage talent and backstage artistry.

Students will leave with new skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the collaborative power of theatre.

Lunch is provided daily.


 

SUMMER 2026 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Early Registration Fee (by February 15, 2026): $1,025 (includes $300 non-refundable deposit)

Standard Registration Fee (after February 15, 2026): $1,110 (includes $300 non-refundable deposit)

Full Payment Deadline: June 1, 2026

Discounted pricing available for groups of 5 or more.
Planning to attend with friends or classmates? We’re excited to offer a group rate!

To learn more or to arrange your group registration, please contact us directly at summersession@clarku.edu.

 

Register early to save and guarantee your place!

 

REFUND SCHEDULE

Deadline Registration Fee Adjustment (minus $300 non-refundable deposit)
Monday, June 8, 2026 100%
Monday, June 22, 2026 50%
Monday, June 29, 2026 25%
after Monday, June 29, 2026 0%

 

Program contact: summersession@clarku.edu

 

Facilities

Outside view of Michelson Theater

Little Center

CUTSI will be held entirely in Clark University’s Visual and Performing Arts Little Center. As the hub of Clark’s theater arts program, the Little Center hums with set-building and costume construction, rehearsals, and productions nearly every day and night throughout the academic year.

overhead view of Michelson Theater

Michelson Theatre

A movable seating area, stage, and flexible lighting system allow for almost infinite possibilities in production design.

Students practicing dance routine in movement classroom

Movement Classroom

The movement classroom on the 2nd floor (elevator accessible) has a mirrored wall and portable dance bars for all movement needs.

Experimental Theater

Experimental Theatre

The Experimental Theatre is a very intimate 30-seat theatre that is flexible for small shows, readings, rehearsals, and student works.

A Day in the Life at the Theatre Summer Intensive

8:30 – 8:50 a.m.
Drop Off
9 – 11:45 a.m.
Class Sessions
Noon – 12:50 p.m.
Lunch
1 – 3:45 p.m.
Class Sessions
4 – 4:30
Pick Up
theater arts class

Class sessions include: Improv, Scene Studies, Monologues, Acting the Song, Crafting the Character, Movement and Voice Practice, Technical Theatre, Rehearsals and Auditions

Faculty

Audra Carabetta

Audra Carabetta

Audra Carabetta is a respected dance educator and choreographer with an MFA in Dance from Smith College and a BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Currently, she serves as a dedicated faculty member at Clark University, Bridgewater State University, and The College of the Holy Cross, where she specializes in a diverse range of dance genres. In addition to her teaching, Audra is a certified yoga and barre instructor, blending elements of mindfulness and fitness into her dance practice.

Her extensive teaching background includes faculty positions at esteemed institutions such as Amherst College, Smith College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tufts University, Dean College, Acton School of Ballet, and Annemarie’s Dance Center. As a performer, Audra has collaborated with notable choreographers and companies, including Across The Ages Dance Project, Brian Crabtree and Dancers, Lorraine Chapman The Company, Daniel McCusker Dance Project, Marcus Schulkind, Weber Dance, the Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company, and The Boston Early Music Festival.

In her role as an independent choreographer, Audra is actively engaged in the Greater Boston area, where her innovative work has garnered recognition through various awards and grants. Her contributions to the dance community reflect her commitment to excellence and her passion for the art form on both national and international platforms.

Nicholas Tocci

Nicholas Tocci

Baritone Nicholas Tocci has become one of the most sought-after artists in New England, with appearances in every state in the region. A New Hampshire native, Mr. Tocci is currently based in Vermont.

Mr. Tocci can be seen performing with many production companies based in the New England area, performing a variety of roles. Some of the most notable include: Schaunard in Puccini’s la Bohème, Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, Don Pasquale in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Guglielmo in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Father in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen, Creonte in Cherubini’s Medea, and William in Phillip Glass’ Fall of the House of Usher.

In addition to his work on the lyric stage, Mr. Tocci can be seen performing as the bass soloist in several concert and oratorio works. He has performed as a soloist in productions of Handel’s Messiah, Carmina Burana, Mozart Requiem, L’enfance du Christ as Joseph, Bernstein’s Mass, Robert Aldridge’s Parables: An Interfaith Oratorio. Additional performances include Faure’s Requiem, Bach’s Cantata 140, Magnificat, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass, among others.

Not only a stage performer, Mr. Tocci is also involved in the creation of opera from an administrative perspective. He is currently the Associate Director of BARN Opera in Brandon, VT, where he has both directed (Barber of Seville, Don Pasquale), assisted directed, and constructed their main theatre, the BARN Opera House. In addition to his work as a producer, Mr. Tocci is also an educator. Currently a Professor of Voice at Clark University in Worcester, MA. He is also on staff of Castellopera, a three week summer program providing developmental skills to opera singers of all ages, as well as cultural enrichment for students and community members on the Adriatic coastal town of Cesenatico.

J'Quan Oliver

J’Quan Oliver

J’Quan Oliver originally learned dance off the streets of Boston, and trained in multiple Martial Arts since he was six. Since then, he’s had extensive training in hip-hop, break-dancing, tricking & parkour. Eventually, he expanded his training into tap and contemporary. As J’Quan progressed, he traveled to look into different genres of art and dance from different cultures to further expand his knowledge and understanding in order to then develop his own unique style.

J’Quan attended Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts for Game Design with a minor in Psychology. During this time, he helped create the Becker College Dance Program as Captain for the team and President for their club. He also joined Dance Company Worcester as a guest choreographer/dancer for 4 years, was a part of one of the most influential crews for hiphop in Boston known as “Phunk Phenomenon,” was a Director/Choreographer for Urbanity, and helped create their adult dance crew called “Prizmatic”. He won Prelude NY with Phunk, hosted Prelude Boston and competed at World of Dance. He worked with music artists such as Joyner Lucas, Rodney Hazard, Maverick, World Premiere Band, and local other artists in the Worcester & Boston areas. He has also hosted events for the community to exchange in art and culture.

In dance, he combines Musicality and storytelling combined with the fast, intricate movements of a martial artist and acrobatics in his work. “It’s not always about the movement of your body, but the movement of your mind. Your mind is unlimited so you must keep it creative, unapologetic, and free.”

Rodney Witherspoon

Rodney Witherspoon

Rodney Witherspoon is an actor, writer, director, and educator. His play Tidwell, or the Plantation Play is published by Samuel French, Inc. As a performer and director, he has worked with various companies across the country, including Trinity Repertory Company, Antigravity Performance Project, Huntington Theatre Company, Front Porch Arts Collective, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Gamm Theatre, Mixed Magic Theatre, Wilbury Theatre Group, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Actors’ Equity Association.

MaryBeth DeKara

MaryBeth “MB” DeKara

MaryBeth “MB” DeKara is a mother, wife, sister, daughter, improviser and teacher. MB holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine and Performing Arts from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a Masters Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College. She has worked as a professional actor, arts administrator, and teacher for 20 years, in North Carolina, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Locally, MB has been a cast member and instructor at ImprovBoston in Central Square Cambridge since 2009 and an adjunct faculty member in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Clark University in Worcester since 2015. She is a proud board member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Grafton and Upton, and recently directed a community production of “The Shadow Box” for Apple Tree Arts. MB believes in approaching teaching groups with a holistic mindset. Whatever the age of the student; an emphasis will be put on how the skills and experience gained will serve her students outside of class long term. Besides teaching and performing MB’s greatest joy comes from spending time with her husband Toby, and their amazing kids Ezra and Zoe.

Jessie Darrell-JarbadanJessie Darrell-Jarbadan

Jessie Darrell Jarbadan is a free-lance designer and fabricator in the Southern New England region. Jessie has been the resident designer and adjunct faculty at Clark University since 2006 until she joined the full-time faculty in 2021 as an Associate Professor of Practice and is currently the Program Director of the Theatre Arts program. Her work has been onstage at The Gamm, 2nd Story Theatre, Opera North, Opera Providence, Brown/Trinity MFA program, Brown University, and Rhode Island College. She is a proud graduate of the Hartt School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, and of the Independent Masters Program at Rhode Island College. She lives in Warwick, RI, and would like to thank her mosaic of a family for everything.

Contact Information

Visual and Performing Arts

Office Location
  • Traina Center for the Arts
    92 Downing Street
    Worcester, MA 01610

  • 1-508-793-7113
  • vpa[at]clarku[dot]edu
  • 1-508-793-8844 (fax)